David Shama's Minnesota Sports Headliners

Next Stadium Could Be for MLS Soccer

Posted on July 2, 2014July 2, 2014 by David Shama

The future of pro soccer in Minnesota might be more a question of who will own the franchise and where the team will play, rather than whether this area will be granted membership in North America’s best league.

Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber has said MLS will expand by four teams within six years and Minneapolis is on a short list of potential new franchises. Minnesota United owner Bill McGuire wouldn’t confirm to Sports Headliners he will pursue an MLS franchise but it’s believed he is open to doing so—and leaving the North American Soccer League where the United play. A Minneapolis MLS team, if owned by McGuire, would likely play in a new soccer-specific stadium in Hennepin County.

The Wilf family, owners of the Vikings, have made it known they are interested in owning a Minneapolis MLS franchise. The Vikings have exclusive five-year rights to pursue an MLS team in their new downtown multipurpose stadium once it opens in 2016.

A source told Sports Headliners McGuire has interest in potential stadium sites near Mall of America and downtown. At either location an open air stadium seating about 20,000 would most closely approximate the facility model favored by the MLS, where playing in a domed facility isn’t the norm. The new Vikings domed stadium will have a capacity of about 65,000 for football but seats could be covered to create a more intimate setting for soccer. A partially transparent roof and facades will allow natural light into the Vikings stadium and create an outdoor viewing feel for spectators.

At first consideration it might seem doubtful there would be much public support for a soccer-specific stadium. But perhaps Mall of America interests would join McGuire in financing a stadium near the mega shopping center in Bloomington. A privately financed stadium at that location would provide a major outdoor venue that could be used for soccer, concerts and other attractions.

Before the MOA was built, Met Stadium in Bloomington hosted the Minnesota Kicks, a popular NASL team that drew large crowds because of the party environment fueled by tailgating. Combining the marketing power of the MOA with the lure of a new stadium and revived tailgating could create a lot of awareness about a new soccer product in Bloomington.

At least two sites near the Farmers Market downtown are being talked about for a soccer stadium. Proponents of the Farmers Market area fought to have the Vikings stadium there, arguing the location could be a financial stimulus to the neighborhood and even boost the city’s north side economy. It’s also said that a soccer stadium in that area—near Target Field and Target Center—further enhances the city’s entertainment district. The greater area is a transit hub that includes light rail and train service.

Hennepin County, the public partner in financing Target Field, might be a supporter of a Farmers Market soccer stadium. The county, unlike the city, is in a better financial position to help back a stadium and both public entities would profit from taxes and increased business activities.

Could the Twins also be a partner with McGuire in the team and facility? McGuire was in Kansas City, Kansas last December with a group that included Twins president Dave St. Peter. The purpose was to look at the local MLS’s stadium—Sporting Park, a facility that seats 18,467 for soccer and 25,000 for concerts. The outdoor stadium opened in 2011 and cost $200 million.

A soccer-specific stadium either at Mall of America or downtown would be expected to create event revenues beyond those generated by an MLS team. Whether the stadium is a public-private partnership, or privately owned, a 20,000 seat open air facility fills a void in the Twin Cities market and might interest various investors including the Twins who have staged concerts at Target Field.

Proponents of playing in the Vikings stadium will insist that with $150 million invested by the city and $348 million from the state, the only place that makes sense for a local MLS franchise is the new multipurpose venue being constructed on the old Metrodome site. The Vikings are paying the balance of the cost for the near $1 billion stadium and they will argue the facility was built to house as many events as possible, including soccer, and provide the best return on investment for all concerned.

The Wilfs or McGuire would likely pay $100 million or more as an expansion fee. The fee for the New York FC team that begins play in 2015 was $100 million. “Major League Soccer franchise fees have increased twenty fold from the league’s ten charter clubs in 1996 to introduction of the twentieth franchise in 2013,” according to a June 11 story last year by Christopher Savino for Businessofsoccer.com.

But paying around $100 million could be a bargain and a smart business move. While expansion fees have increased, so has the value of franchises. Chris Smith, reporting for Forbes.com in a story November 20, 2013, wrote that cities are lining up for expansion teams and that should not be a surprise. “In 2011, average MLS attendance hit 17,872 to surpass both the NBA and NHL, and it has since increased to 18,611 fans per game. More impressively, the average franchise is now worth $103 million, up more than 175% over the last five years.”

Those numbers have to catch the attention of McGuire and the Wilfs. If trends continue, the value of the Minneapolis team will escalate—perhaps dramatically—and even prompt interest in eventually selling the franchise for a big profit.

After decades of promise, soccer in America seems to finally be fulfilling the popularity forecast for the sport decades ago. The World Cup that started last month and continues until July 13 has been a reminder to Americans that the sport most popular in so many countries stirs interest in North America, too.

Downtown Minneapolis crowds have waited outside Brit’s Pub to watch the World Cup, and Minnesota kids are playing soccer in large numbers. With more ethnic groups who love the sport moving into the state, the interest in Minnesota soccer will grow. It’s that kind of following here and in other parts of the country that is pushing the MLS into a richer and more promising future.

With a potential 24-team league by 2020, it doesn’t make sense for the MLS to pass on Minneapolis-St. Paul, the 15th largest TV market. The question is who will own the franchise and where will the team play.

Worth Noting

Jeff Jones and those close to the Washburn all-state running back aren’t giving up on him enrolling at the University of Minnesota later this summer. His latest ACT score wasn’t high enough to meet NCAA eligibility requirements.

“They are bound and determined to get him on campus,” Washburn coach Giovan Jenkins told Sports Headliners. “They don’t want him to go to junior college.”

Jones is taking two online summer classes and will know the results by July 10. There is a possibility his grades from those classes will improve his high school GPA enough—combined with his ACT score—to meet NCAA requirements.

There are potential ways for Jones to attend Minnesota this year even if he isn’t eligible to play in games for the Gophers. Among those avenues is for Jones to be admitted by the University without a scholarship but train and practice with the team during the 2014 season.

Jashon Cornell, the Cretin-Derham Hall defensive end who announced this morning he will play for Ohio State, is likely to excel as a pass rusher for the Buckeyes. Cornell, who will be a high school senior next season, likely would have started for the Gophers in 2015.

Condolences to the family and friends of Paul Najarian who lost his struggle with ALS on June 23. Paul, 52, is survived by his wife Julie and three children. He is the son of Dr. John Najarian and wife Mignette. A football loving family, Paul played at California, where his dad also played for the Golden Bears. Brother Peter played for the Gophers. Paul was the longtime and original owner of Popeye’s Chicken on Lake Street. A visitation, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., and celebration of his life, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., will be held tomorrow at Mendakota Country Club.

The Wild has sold the building where the NHL team offices, according to a Sports Headliners source. A real estate developer has purchased 317 on Rice Park but the Wild will continue to office in the building and the Minnesota Swarm will, too.

Daktronics will provide a major technology upgrade to Xcel Energy Center including a new custom HD LED center-hung video board nearly six times larger than the current one, stretching from blue line to blue line.

Additional upgrades will include replacement of outdoor marquees and ribbon displays that encircle the interior arena fascia. The new elements will be installed over the summer, with the official unveiling planned for the Wild’s first home preseason game on September 27 against the Jets.

The Wild were able to sign free agent Thomas Vanek and fill a goal scoring need because he was a pro sports exception—a player willing to make less money than he earned with his old deal. Vanek reportedly will earn $6.5 million after playing last season for $7.1 million.

The June 30 issue of Sports Illustrated includes a six-page story on Darren Sharper, the former Vikings safety, who faces multiple rape charges. “Cumulatively, the accusations are overwhelming, but individually they may be difficult to prove,” the magazine speculated.

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Ex-Gopher Turns 103 Years Old Today

Posted on June 30, 2014June 30, 2014 by David Shama

Lu Vorpahl—who is believed to be the oldest living former Gophers football player—celebrates his 103rd birthday today.

Vorpahl was born on June 30, 1911. That was before the First World War and prior to a constitutional amendment extending the right of suffrage to women in the United States. It was even prior to the legendary Bernie Bierman captaining the 1915 Big Ten championship Gophers football team.

A sportswriter recently visited Vorpahl in his apartment at a Minneapolis area assisted living facility. Vorpahl is frail and his hearing is less than perfect but his mind is sharp and spirits are high. Asked the secret to his longevity, he said, “Good friends. They keep you going.”

For a birthday celebration relatives will take Vorpahl on a trip up north today to Breezy Point where he owns a residence. He isn’t sure how long he will stay, possibly a week. What does he want for his birthday? “I just want everybody to have a good time,” he said.

A trip to Breezy Point wouldn’t be Vorpahl’s first travel in recent months. He was in Florida and Arizona earlier this year. He became ill in March while out of town, and about a month ago moved into assisted living. That meant not residing any longer in the Minneapolis area home that he built in the late 1940’s and stayed in for so many years.

At his new residence Vorpahl enjoys church services and going to the fitness center where he will exercise for 30 minutes at a time. On a recent day he was even doing shoulder exercises in his room to lessen discomfort. “I got pains across my back. I guess that’s arthritis or something like that. My shoulder (bothers me) but I can work it out.”

What might Vorpahl have said if football teammates predicted back in the early 1930s that he would celebrate a 103rd birthday and be the oldest living former Gophers football player? He laughed and answered, “Baloney.”

How has Vorpahl been able to achieve such longevity? “I didn’t play hard enough,” he joked. “I am out living all these guys (teammates) who played hard. Those were quite the days.”

Vorpahl played a couple of seasons for the Gophers before an injury forced him to quit football. A halfback, he only played in one game and never lettered. First he played for head coach Fritz Crisler who left the Gophers after the 1931 season to coach at Princeton. Then he played for Bierman whose first season as Minnesota head coach was in 1932. “We had a great coach in those days but he couldn’t make me good enough,” Vorpahl said.

The “Grey Eagle” won his first national championship in 1934 but Vorpahl was no longer on the team. Bierman would go on to coach national championship teams at Minnesota in 1935, 1936, 1940 and 1941. “They really had a coach there,” Vorpahl said. “I’d say Bierman was tops.”

When Vorpahl left the University he had his football memories but he had something more important. “Best thing I ever did was get my degree (civil engineering), and not worry about football where I wasn’t good enough,” he said.

That was 1935 when Vorpahl had his diploma and entered a scarce job market. He found employment even though America was in the Great Depression. A steady job meant he could get married. He and Genevieve were married 61 years before she passed away in 2000. Vorpahl paid her the ultimate compliment when he said Genevieve accepting his proposal for marriage was the highlight of his life. They never had children.

The two of them met at Edison High School. Vorpahl played football for the Tommies and was president of the National Honor Society, graduating in 1929. His intelligence and leadership would serve him well after high school including during World War II.

Vorpahl joined the Army Corps of Engineers in 1940 and helped build runways in Australia, New Zealand and the Philippines. He also was in New Guinea where for 27 months he and four others lived in a tent. “We enjoyed each other’s company,” Vorpahl said. “We were from all over the country.”

Back in Minneapolis after the war Vorpahl joined a company called Barber Oil. He later became managing director for Union Oil Company of California, now known as Chevron. Retirement came in 1976, and if you’re doing the math that was 38 years ago!

Vorpahl earned a good living and believes in giving back to the community. He was a founding member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in St. Anthony. He’s been a member of the Knights of Columbus for more than 70 years, and has generously donated money to the University of Minnesota. “I set up a couple scholarships in my wife’s name and my folks’ name in the engineering school,” he said.

A visitor clarified that the scholarships were for engineering students. Vorpahl’s sense of humor was evident once more when he responded, “I am not going to give them (scholarships) to the law school.”

The University invited Vorpahl and other guests to watch a Gophers football game last fall from an enclosed area at TCF Bank Stadium. “Watching it behind glass (out of the elements), you don’t mind it,” Vorpahl said. “That was a real treat—the (amount of) food to no end.”

Vorpahl met all-time leading rusher Darrell Thompson and Gophers coach Jerry Kill at last year’s game. “I rate him (Thompson) up with the best,” Vorpahl said.

He likes Kill, too, but recognizes the coach has been rebuilding the program that has struggled for decades despite a royal legacy from Bierman. “I think we’re getting a little better but we need help,” Vorpahl said.

Vorpahl “loves” football and regrets not being able to earn a letter. That seems like something the Gophers could do something about.

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Ali and Mackay: A Magical Relationship

Posted on June 25, 2014June 28, 2014 by David Shama

It was more than 50 years ago that Cassius Clay first won the heavyweight boxing championship. He later changed his name to Muhammad Ali and was admired by the world for his boxing prowess, showmanship, and views on racial and religious tolerance and justice. Retired since 1981 and slowed for decades by Parkinson’s disease, Ali remains “The Greatest” to millions of admirers including his close friend Harvey Mackay—the Minneapolis entrepreneur, best-selling business author, motivational speaker and former University of Minnesota golfer.

Ali and his wife Lonnie are the cover story for the June issue of the AARP Bulletin. A photo shows the “Champ” receiving a tender kiss on the forehead from his wife with this headline: “Caring for The Greatest, Lonnie and Muhammad Ali’s Brave Ordeal.”

The story is a lesson about love, compassion and devotion. Writer Jon Saraceno describes how Lonnie and her support team work to ensure the comfort and best possible outcomes for Ali who struggles with his speech and spends much of his time in a motorized chair. Part of Lonnie’s message, too, is how important it is for the caretaker to develop and maintain his or her own coping mechanisms.

“From my perspective, it’s the finest article I have ever read on the ‘Champ’ and his relationship with Lonnie,” Mackay told Sports Headliners. “It’s the best (article) of going into her heart and showing who she is. I think he (Saraceno) captured her magnificently.”

Mackay and his wife Carol Ann treasure their friendship with the Alis. Both couples own residences in the Phoenix area. Through the years they have shared many restaurant dinners and visits to each other’s homes.

“We go to each other’s birthday parties,” Mackay said. “Every other week we’re often with them. Lonnie is one of Carol Ann’s best friends.”

Mackay is on the board of directors of Celebrity Fight Night, a world-class annual event in Phoenix that has raised nearly $100 million for charities in 19 years, according to its website. The event draws a who’s who of names including Hollywood and sports stars, and annually honors Ali as the featured guest. Celebrity Fight Night has made the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center at Barrow Neurological Institute a significant recipient of the fundraising.

It’s been decades now since Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The disease and his age (72) are more difficult opponents than he ever faced in the ring including Sonny Liston who Clay dethroned for the world heavyweight championship in February of 1964. “Yet, rarely does a whisper of complaint come from the man known as ‘The Greatest,’ “ Saraceno wrote.

“You just have to appreciate his guts,” Mackay said. “I marvel at his ongoing attitude and graciousness toward others.”

Mackay saw a trembling Ali light the 1996 Olympic Torch in Atlanta and knew this was an American hero he needed to meet. Mackay was researching and writing Dig Your Well Before You’re Thirsty, The Only Networking Book You’ll Ever Need.

Mackay long ago recognized the incalculable value of developing and maintaining relationships. He has an extraordinary database of names, phone numbers, addresses and profiles of people who are both close and casual acquaintances. In his Dig Your Well tutorial he tells how to get to know people, maintain relationships, ask for what you need, and “how to unlock any door…anywhere…at any time.”

His Rolodex is phenomenal but Mackay isn’t “The Greatest.”

“Nobody knows more people than he (Ali) does. I decided I had to meet him and do a chapter on Muhammad in the book,” Mackay said.

Mackay searched both his Rolodex and memory, recalling that Ali grew up in Louisville. Mackay knew former Kentucky governor John Y. Brown who was one of 17 financial backers of Ali early in the fighter’s career. Brown told Mackay he could help with an introduction because he knew Ali’s photographer and confidant, Howard Bingham.

Bingham set up an appointment for Mackay at the “Champ’s” 88 acre estate in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Mackay would spend eight hours interviewing Ali but before he went to Michigan he did his homework. His learned Ali loved magic and that the “Champ” performed some tricks himself.

Mackay was fond of magic, too, and knew a few tricks. “I went to a magician and brushed up on my magic before the trip,” Mackay remembered. “When I met Ali I not only did a magic trick for him, but showed him how it was done. It was something that turned him on.”

Ali also performed magic for Mackay who detailed the experience in his networking book:

“As an audience of one, I was privileged to be entertained at a magic show, complete with sleight of hand, disappearing coins and hankies, and optical illusions. …

“ ‘Watch my feet,’ he said. He took three steps, turned his back on me and made himself appear to float three inches off the ground.”

That magical day years ago in Michigan was the beginning of Mackay’s relationship with “The Greatest.”

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